Suchergebnisse

The COVID‐19 pandemic has raised awareness of the urgency of reforming our economy to achieve a global recovery. This endeavour will require the implementation of various strategies aiming for a system reset, at the core of which is the sustainable recovery model. In 2009, the United Nations General Assembly proclaimed 22 April as International Mother Earth Day. It was a brave act of acknowledgement that the Earth and its ecosystems are our typical home. At the same time, it is a tangible expression of the global conviction that humankind must be in Harmony with Nature to achieve a just balance among the economic, social and environmental needs of present and future generations. While the global community is actively searching for new ways to achieve sustainable development, resolved to perform an economic system reset, determined to a green recovery, why don't we try to reform the taxing system? A right taxation system could help recover quickly and achieve a green recovery of the global economy. While everyone has to pay tax, the truth is that some more prominent companies go to extreme measures to minimise their contribution where they are based and where they sell. The new thinking that this article puts forward is that instead of taxing the companies for what they produce and sell, we should tally the amount of CO2 a company emits while making the goods and recycling them to tax them accordingly.

AbstractDespite significant efforts by the European Union (EU) member states (MS) and regions, the role of evaluation in the cohesion policy (CP) is limited, mainly because of issues associated with selecting appropriate evaluation methods. Thus, this article develops a guide for selecting evaluation methods depending on the intervention type and evaluation criteria, which are specific to the evaluation questions. In all the cases, it is recommended to combine various methods, as the complexity of the interventions, along with the participatory character of the CP and the weaknesses of each method, require their combined application. We propose 22 methods and recommend combining three to seven of them for each of the five evaluation criteria (relevance, effectiveness, efficiency, utility, sustainability) and the nine main types of the CP's intervention. At the same time, issues associated with impact evaluations are clarified. It is highlighted that both the proposed combination of evaluation methods and the evaluative questions are indicative rather than restrictive. Their selection is directly connected to the authorities' needs on behalf of which the evaluation is conducted as well as the special conditions under which the intervention is implemented. The proposed guidelines may be useful to stakeholders involved in the evaluation of the CP on a practical level as well as for everyone involved in evaluating public policies more broadly, as appropriate evaluation enhances accountability, legitimacy, and informed decision making in all stages of a public policy's life cycle.

Objective: The purpose of the study is to explore and recognize the variety of reasons that belie the female student body decision of opting for medicine as a career option.
Methods: An interview based study, with both closed and open ended questions, was conducted amongst the female medical students of public and private sector medical colleges in Saudi Arabia. Material and information were gathered using this interview-based questionnaire which the female students were asked to fill out. The duration of study was from 1st October 2021 to 30th January 2022. Analyzed on SPSS version 22.
Results: A total of 900 female medical students participated with 336 (37.3%) from pre-clinical years and 564 (62.7%) from clinical years. The mean age of the respondents was 20.7+1.8 years. The results imply a variety of reasons for the choice of medicine as a profession by the females with majority stressing the desire to serve humanity and the attached respect and acceptance as the other attracting factors. Minor reasons also exist that are discussed in greater depth in the article.
Conclusion: It is evident that in spite of the overwhelming obstacles still prevalent and the conservative attitudes towards career oriented females, women's deciding to enter the field of medicine is on the increase, as it makes it easier to stand up for when they are wronged and make their own choices. The government can help further by increasing the initiatives to get more females to enroll in the MBBS programs all over the country.

The aim of this study was to analyze the production patterns present in rural properties producing cattle in the micro-regions that make up the state of Pará. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was applied to identify the patterns, and these data are used to evaluate correlation between the heterogeneity of rural properties and the environmental impact on the identified patterns. The theoretical contribution is based on discussions on global impacts of food production and environmental sustainability and the impacts of livestock production systems in Brazil and the Amazon. Survey data were taken from the 2017 Agricultural Census, available for the 144 municipalities in the state, and pooled into 22 micro-regions. Three patterns of rural properties were identified: the first related to conservation management practices and called transition management; the second highlights aspects associated with information technology and communication (ICT) and productivity called technical productive efficiency; the third indicates the importance of social organization and access to information called social participation. With these patterns, it was possible to develop the Traditional Performance Indicator (TPI), in which the micro-regions of São Félix do Xingu, Itaituba and Conceição do Araguaia were those with the highest values of this indicator, water protection practices are present in the properties, however, in precarious conditions, and conservation practices are rarely used. The correlation between heterogeneity, measured by the size of pasture area in each microregion, and the TPI is positive, strong and significant. In this transition context, public policies are essential to provide access to infrastructure, credit and good animal health and biotechnology practices

AbstractEmergency risk communication (ERC) for smoke emitted from major fires continues to challenge governments. During these events, practitioners (including scientific, communication, and emergency response government staff) are tasked with quickly making sense of the public health risks and the communication options available. Practitioners' sensemaking—the process of creating meaning from information about an unfolding emergency—is key to effective ERC. This article identifies the factors that ERC practitioners consider the most important to their sensemaking for smoke events. A survey of practitioners (n = 86) was conducted to elicit their views on the level of importance of 22 different factors (individual, organizational, and contextual) on their sensemaking. The results indicate that the majority of the factors tested are very important to practitioners. This finding likely reflects the multidimensional nature of emergency smoke events and provides evidence as to why practitioners are challenged when trying to make sense of emergency situations. Despite multiple factors being considered very important to practitioners, the time‐limited nature of emergencies means that practitioners will inevitability be forced to prioritize in their sensemaking efforts. Our results also provide insight into practitioners' prioritization of different information sources. Specifically, practitioners prioritize their own knowledge and the knowledge of other practitioners. The two most important factors were information from other incident management stakeholders and the practitioners' past experience. Other information, including community‐based and academic knowledge, appear to be of lower priority for practitioners. Based on the study results, recommendations for practice and future research are discussed.

La quinua (Chenopodium quinoa) es uno de los principales granos de especie domesticada oriunda de los Andes altiplánicos y valles altoandinos. Debido a que sus cosechas no siempre presentan un color homogéneo, en algunas empresas vienen utilizando máquinas clasificadoras para quinua que son adaptadas de otros cereales, cuyo funcionamiento no garantiza la eficiencia deseada. El propósito del estudio fue diseñar y construir un prototipo de máquina que clasifique los granos de quinua según el color deseado. Las partes principales de la máquina incluyen el diseño de la estructura mecánica que comprende tres zonas: alimentación, transporte y proceso y almacenamiento. Las piezas fueron construidas con materiales de acero y algunas piezas con filamento PLA fabricadas con impresora 3D; sistema de control electrónico, utilizando un microcontrolador para la adaptación de la señal de sensor IR y controlar los electroactuadores para la selección de quinuas homogéneas según los parámetros de colores permitidos; y control de funcionamiento mecánico, utilizando dos motores, una para la dosificación de los granos de quinua y otra para el movimiento de la faja transportadora. Para conseguir el mejor rendimiento se realizaron ajustes respecto a la velocidad y cantidad de quinuas, estableciendo a 24 hileras con una elevación de 22 grados respecto al eje horizontal, habiéndose conseguido la meta de 5 kg por hora y obtenido la homogeneidad de los granos de quinua con alta eficiencia y de mejor calidad para su comercialización.

El Politing o Marketing Político Integrado (MPI), es un término de vieja data en el campo de la mercadotecnia, versa su práctica en la asesoría antes, durante y después de una elección, donde el candidato, principal producto de una campaña política, se convierte en el eje de desarrollo de estrategias y acciones, para llevarlo al triunfo electivo. Lo interesante del «MPI», es que como herramienta le permite al asesorado tener los elementos de convicción para influir en el votante, como en la opinión pública, generando un ambiente de discusión, donde todos hablen del postulante, convirtiéndose casi que en una marca, en tanto y en cuanto su imagen sea bien manejada y posicionada. A través de una planeación estratégica anticipada, como instrumento guía para encarar la lid electoral, se encamina el proceso de la gestión política, incluso ya en el poder, si el candidato alcanza el triunfo. Este estudio analiza el aporte del politing en el posicionamiento de imagen de los Gobiernos Autónomos Descentralizados (GAD'S), donde el «Burgomaestre» es el referente de la política local, por ser el representante de la institución, que en el caso de Manabí son 22. Utilizando el método inductivo completo, la investigación «exploratoria, descriptiva, de campo, documental y correlacional», se logra cumplir el objetivo planteado, además de probar las hipótesis enunciadas, correlacionando de igual manera las variables y dimensiones, con trazo longitudinal, por medio del recurso estadístico SPSS/25 y el coeficiente p Rho de Spearman, detallando los principales hallazgos en las conclusiones.

AbstractOviductal extracellular vesicles (OEVs) play an important role in fertilization and embryo development. However, it remains largely unknown whether the size and protein cargo of OEVs change during the estrous cycle in mice. This study analyzed the changes in the size distribution and protein cargo of OEVs at four stages of the estrous cycle in mice. The distribution widths of OEVs according to the estrous cycle stage were as follows: proestrus, 20–690 nm in diameter, with two peaks at 50 and 250 nm; estrus, 22–420 nm in diameter, with two peaks at 40 and 200 nm; metestrus, 30–70 nm diameter, with a single peak at 40 nm; and diestrus, 10–26 nm diameter, with a single peak at 20 nm. The estrogen receptor (ER) level in OEVs at the proestrus stage differed significantly from that at estrus (P = 0.013) and diestrus (P = 0.005). The levels of CD9 and Hsc70 fluctuated across the four stages, although with no significant differences. Furthermore, OEVs were observed among the cilia and microvilli of epithelial cells at the proestrus, estrus, and diestrus stages, but not at the metestrus stage. The number of observed OEVs was the highest at the proestrus stage, followed by the estrus, and the diestrus stage. Endosomes were also observed at the estrus and diestrus stages. The change of the OEV size and ER cargo is associated with the estrous cycle in mice. Our findings increase the understanding of the physiological characteristics of OEVs, which may have clinical applications.

AbstractAn emerging risk is characterized by scant published data, rapidly changing information, and an absence of existing models that can be directly used for prediction. Analysis may be further complicated by quickly evolving decision‐maker priorities and the potential need to make decisions quickly as new information comes available. To provide a forum to discuss these challenges, a virtual conference, "Decision Making for Emerging Risks," was held on June 22–23, 2021, sponsored jointly by the Decision Analysis Society of the Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences and the Decision Analysis and Risk specialty group in the Society for Risk Analysis. Speakers reflected on the work to support decision‐makers related to the COVID‐19 pandemic as well as experiences in emerging risks across domains from cybersecurity, infrastructure, transportation, energy, food safety, national security, and climate change. Here, we distill the key findings to propose a set of best practice principles for a "decision‐first" approach for emerging risks. These discussions underscore the importance of scoping the decision context and the shared responsibility for the development and implementation of the analysis between the analyst and the decision‐maker when the context can evolve rapidly. Emerging risks may also favor simpler analytical approaches that increase transparency, ease of explanation, and ability to conduct new analyses quickly. Continued dialogue by the decision and risk analysis communities on the use and development of models for emerging risks will enhance the credibility and usefulness of these approaches.

Politik Negeri Melaka terkenal sebagai kubu kuat BN sejak sebelum merdeka hingga PRU 2013. Namun pada PRU 2018, Melaka jatuh kepada parti pembangkang iaitu PH. 22 bulan selepas PH memerintah Melaka maka jatuh pula Kerajaan PH dan ditubuhkan Kerajaan BN+PN. Kemudian pada 4 Oktober 2021, empat orang ADUN kerajaan menarik sokongan mereka dan menyatakan sokongan untuk membentuk Kerajaan baharu yang diterajui PH. Namun pada 5 Oktober 2021, Yang Dipertua Negeri Melaka pula membubarkan DUN untuk diadakan satu pilihan raya baharu. Pilihan raya baharu tersebut diadakan dan akhirnya BN menang dengan majoriti dua pertiga. Keputusan pilihan raya tersebut menghasilkan pola pengundian yang menarik untuk dikaji hasil daripada keputusan politik pengundi Melaka. Justeru adalah menjadi tujuan penulisan artikel ini untuk menganalisis geopolitik Melaka dan pilihan politik pengundi dalam PRU DUN Melaka 2021. Berdasarkan analisis data keputusan PRU DUN Melaka 2021, pemerhatian di lapangan dan analisis sumber sekunder, dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa kemenangan BN, kekalahan PH dan sokongan pengundi yang signifikan kepada PN dalam pilihan raya menghasilkan landskap politik yang menarik untuk dikaji. Pilihan raya tersebut menunjukkan bahawa peratus keluar mengundi jatuh berbanding PRU 2018 kerana wabak pandemik COVID-19, rakyat bosan dengan aktiviti politiking ahli politik yang tidak berkesudahan dan tiada manfaat bagi mereka untuk turun mengundi. Oleh itu, perubahan pola sokongan pengundi dan kejatuhan peratus keluar mengundi tersebut menunjukkan trend luar biasa yang menarik untuk dianalisis oleh pengkaji politik dan diambil pengajaran oleh pimpinan politik menuju pilihan raya umum akan datang.

The fight against COVID-19, which has become a global problem and still has an impact, still continues and a number of measures have been taken to mitigate the adverse economic impacts of the pandemic in Turkey. The measures taken affected each sector in the economy at different magnitudes. While results such as temporarily slowed-down production due to the first wave of the pandemic in certain production domains and decreased demand for manufactured goods have emerged, positive results also occurred due to the spread of remote online working as well as products such as food, cosmetics, hygiene and cleaning equipment, intense internet usage and the growth of manufacturing areas for smartphones, computers and so on, as well as increases in demand for those products. The extent to which sectors in the economy were affected throughout the pandemic has been an interesting research subject in the literature. Therefore, this study aims to examine the impacts of the COVID - 19 pandemic on the industrial, banking, and tourism sectors within the Turkish economy. In the study, over the period between March 11, 2020 – April 22, 2021, the number of confirmed daily infected cases was selected as the independent variable, whereas the XU100, XUSIN, XBANK, and XTRSM indexes were selected as dependent variables. The Toda Yamamoto causality test was performed in the study in which the COVID-19 outbreak was examined within the context of specific indexes. The analysis results indicated that a unilateral causal relationship existed running from the number of confirmed daily infected cases to all indexes under examination.

Despite all the positive effects of cell phones on communication, the improper use of these devices may lead to fatigue and many other problems, including academic, physical, and social problems. Among different age groups, students are the most affected due to the importance of cell phones in their educational and communications needs. In this study, we seek to investigate the relationship between improper use of cell phones and fatigue in Iranian medical students. In the present descriptive-analytical and cross-sectional study, 400 students were randomly selected from the Iran University of Medical Sciences by cluster sampling. Data collection tools included demographic information questionnaires, harmful cell phone use (COS), and fatigue (Smets). Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 22 based on the frequency tests, mean, standard deviation, and ANOVA with a significance level of 0.05. The mean age of students was 24.1±5.65. The total population of the study was 56% female and 44%, male. The results revealed that the prevalence of fatigue among students was moderate (56.60%). The status of harmful cell phone use was reported to be moderate (90%). There was a significant relationship between mobile phone use and total fatigue (p=0.029), decreased motivation (p=0.025), and mental fatigue (p = 0.001). Results showed that excessive use of cell phones had an adverse impact on total fatigue, mental fatigue, and motivation. Therefore, it is recommended to design effective interventions to prevent harmful use of cell-phone, student fatigue, and other consequences, including academic failure and reduction of mental health.

AbstractTrevor Smith, who died in April 2021, was an exemplary public servant: a Liberal Democrat peer, university vice‐chancellor, professor of public administration and President of the Political Studies Association. Perhaps his most important legacy was as Chair of the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust from 1987 to 1999 when he 'did much to shape the agenda of centre‐left politics' across Britain, to quote from a grudging obituary in the Times on 29 April. His shaping influence included strategic support for the Scottish Constitutional Convention, Charter 88 and the New Statesman (which was saved from bankruptcy). Born in Hackney in 1937, Trevor left Chiswick Poly aged 16 and worked part‐time to fund his taking the A levels that got him into the London School of Economics. In 1959, he ran for Parliament at the young age of 22, but did so as a Liberal when the party was at its nadir—a loyalty that ensured he never entered the House of Commons. Instead, after a position at Hull he joined the social sciences faculty at Queen Mary and became a professor there in 1983, then a vice‐principal, before becoming Vice‐Chancellor of Ulster University from 1992 to 2000. Made a peer in 1997, he was Liberal Democrat spokesman for Northern Ireland in the House of Lords from 2000 until 2011. On 27 October 2021, a memorial meeting was held to honour him in the Reform Club. The remarks that follow are an extended version of the speech I gave at it, one of number of personal reflections on Trevor's life and influence.

Appropriate environmental performance is considered one of the most important indicators in the sustainable development of organizations and industries. Evaluating the environmental performance in ports as one of the two main parts of the maritime transport system is of particular importance. Therefore, the current study was designed and conducted to develop a method for evaluating the environmental performance of ports based on the fuzzy analytic hierarchy process (FAHP). In the present study, 22 experts in the field of environment and marine sciences were selected in 2020. Firstly, various studies on the factors affecting the environmental performance of ports were reviewed. Secondly, a questionnaire was designed to assess ports' environmental performance. Thirdly, this questionnaire was developed using the Delphi technique. Finally, by determining the weight of each parameter, the method of environmental performance assessment in ports was developed based on the FAHP. The final normalized weights for six environmental performance factors including reactive and proactive performance, sustainability, socio-cultural, economic, and governance were estimated 0.202, 0.241, 0.226, 0.070, 0.080, and 0.182. Additionally, it was found that each of the parameters had a different weight and impact on these factors. The highest and lowest impact on the environmental performance index belonged to environmental risk assessment (weight=0.217), cultural effects, and justice (weight=0.107). In the current study, a new method was developed for evaluating the environmental performance of ports based on six factors, 32 parameters, and FAHP. Therefore, this method may provide an effective step in reducing environmental impacts and improving the level of environmental performance in ports to achieve the goal of green port.

Contents



The Superwomen of Ancient Dahomey: The World of the Amazons



Anselme Guezo ................................ 4



Africa, Japan and China



Seifudein Adem ................................7



The Afrikaners of South Africa – Settlers or Africans?



Anthoni van Nieuwkerk ...................9



A Tour of African Culinary History



Igor Cusack ..............................10



Studying Africa in the Context of the Broader Indian Ocean World



Wossen Ayele ...........................12



Memories Out of Time/ Recalling Home



Helen Yitah ..............................14



Les révolutions arabes : écrire des processus inachevés



Mustapha Medjahdi ...............15



Aux origines du génocide rwandais



Sidi Mohammed Mohammedi .................16



Quelles politiques pour rendre justice aux femmes africaines ?



Belkacem Benzenine ...............18



Modernité, citoyenneté et identité en Algérie



Khedidja Attou ..............................20



Les rapports de genre, enjeux des transformations socioéconomiques et politiques en Afrique



Yamina Rahou ......21



Plaidoyer pour la maitrise de l'espace en République Démocratique du Congo



Noël Obotella Rashidi ...........................22